Gauging machine



July 25, 1933. P, H, HuTcHlNsoN GAUGING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1928ATUR/Vfx Cil Patented July Z5, 1933 Urrea sTAres PATEN PHILXP I-I.EUTCHINSON, OF WIONTCLAR, NEVI JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORSCORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MCHIGAN, A CORPORATEON OFYDELA'WARE entraineApplication filed September This invention relates to gauging machinesand comprises all the features of novelty herein disclosed in connectionwith a machine for gauging and segregating cylindrical rollers fordiameter.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved gauging machine foraccurately and reliably measuring dimensions, more especially diametersof cylinders. Another object is to provide an improved machine forsegregating articles in accordance with their size. Another object is toprovide an electrically controlled gauge which is reliable and sensitiveto small dilferences in the size of the articles. To these ends and toimprove generally and in detail upon devices of this character, theinvention further consists in the various matters hereinafter disclosedand claimed.

In its broader aspects, the invention is not necessarily limited to thespecic constructions selected for illustrative purposes in theaccompanying drawing in which Fig. l is a front elevation with one ofthe gauge covers and other parts cut away or removed.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line II-II of Fig. l.

The machine comprises a frame having a base l0 and an upright standardl2 in which a shaft 14 is journalled for rotation at slow speed by aworm wheel 16, worm' gears 18 and 20, and an electric motor 22 mountedon the base. A feed disc or carrier 24 is held against a collar 26 onthe shaft by a plate 28 carrying coil springs 30 abutting against athrust washer at lthe rear of a nut 32 threaded on the shaft. Thisstructure provides a friction drive for the feed disc 24 which has aninwardly extending peripheral flange 84 cut at intervals to providev aseries of openings or recesses 86 for the rollers R or other artif clesto be gauged. The rollers roll on a cylindrical gauging plate 38comprising a ring having a flange 40 clamped to the frame by a clampingring 42. Rollers are `supplied in any suitable way to Aan inclined chute44 which conducts them to the openings 36 in the feed disc and the feeddisc elevates thel Macnnn 5, 1928.` Serial No. 304,013.

rollers and carries them in succession to a series of gauging devices A,B, C and D.

All gauging devices are preferably alike, thoughr differently set to.classify the articles and Veach comprises a gauge lever 46 bored nearits lower end to receive a pin 48 having end openings, one opening toengage a cone pointed pivot pin-50 set in a recess of a slide 52 and theother to engage a cone pointed pivot screw 54 adjustably clamped by aset screw in a bracket 56 of the slide. Each lever carries a diamondgauge point 58 on its short arm, the articles being gauged between thispoint andthe gauging plate 38. Each slide is adjustable along a dovetailslideway- 60 on an. arcuate extension 62 vof the frame and clampedin'adjusted position by a locking screwv 64. The slide is adjustable toset the gauge point at a predetermined distance from the gauge plate byascrew 66 threaded in a nut 68 set in a round hole of the slide, thescrew being held from endwise movement by integral collarswhich straddlea slotted lug 70 on the extension 62 and the screw being turned by amilled knob 72. Each gauge is housed within a cover plate 73 detachablysecured to the slide.

Each gauge lever 46 is normally held in a radial position with respectto the gauge plate and feed disc, a coil spring 74 pressing it against astop screw 7 6 adjustably iXed to lug 7 8 of the slide. `When an articleengages the diamond-gauge point 58,'it swings the gauge lever 46 in theplane of thek article path to make an electric contact which controlsejecting and sorting mechanism for the article. The gauge point movessubstantially tangentially of the gauge plate and so does notappreciably increase its distance therefrom and yet the lever can havesufficient movement at its upper end to make reliable electric `contact.The long arm of the lever carries a contact Vscrew 8O arranged oppositea contact screw 82 on a spring 84 carried by a block of insulation 86fastened by screws 88 to the slide. Contact of the screws completes anelectric circuit through wires 90 leading to the coils of a magnet 92mounted on a flanged bushing 94 secured to zin-insulating disc 96fastened to the frame. A reciprocating plunger 98 slides in the bushingand is held from rotation by a guide pin 100 attached to its head.Energizing the magnet pulls the plunger one Way and a coil spring 102pushes it back. The spring surrounds a rod 104 forming a part of theplunger and carrying an ejector plate 106 which pushes the articleendvvise out of gauging position and into a sleeve 10S from Which a pipeor chute 110 conducts the article to a bin. All the sleeves 108 for thedifferent stations are a part of a single casting 112 attached by studs11eL to the frame and each sleeve has al pipe leading to a bin. Articleswhich are too small to actuate any of the gauges are carried around inthe recesses of the feed disc and fall out into a suitable chute 116.

In the preferred method of operation, the gauges are individually set bymasters. At the first station A, the setting is such as to reject allrollers that are too large. At station B, the setting is such as toeject high limit articles and segregate them. Medium limit articles areejected and segregated at station .C and low limit articles are ejectedand segregated at station D. The articles that are too small neveractuate any of the gauges and go to chute 116 and of course no articleactua-tes more than one gauge because it is ejected at the first stationWhere the setting of the gauge point is near enough to the gauge plateto lie in the path of that particular article. Extremely accurategauging and classifying of the articles. is possible because the leveris radially placed and can `swing enough to make reliable electriccontact Without the diamond gauge point having to appreciably increaseits distance from the gauge plate.

I claim:V

1. In a gauging machine, an arcuate gauge plate, a gauge beyond theperiphery of said gauge plate, a disc having a flange outside theperiphery of the gauge plate, the disc and flange having articlereceiving openings, and means for rotating the disc;V substantially asdescribed. n'

2. In a gauging machine, an arcuate gauge plate, a gauge, a disc havinga liange outside the periphery of the gauge plate, the disc and flangehaving article. receiving openings, means for rotating the disc and anejector movable across the gauge plate and laterally of the disc forexpelling articles from the openings; substantially as described.

3. In. a. gauging machine, a framehaving a cylindrical gauge plate, aseries of gauges arranged radially outside the periphery of the gaugeplate, a rotary carrier for causing articles to roll along th-e gaugeplate to the gauges, a series of ejectors arranged at one side of thegauge plate, and aseries of chutes at the other side of the gauge plate;substantially as described.

4f.. In a gauging machine, a frame having a cylindrical gauge plate, aseries of gauges' arranged radially outside the periphery of the gaugeplate, a series of ejectors arranged at one side of the gauge plate, aseries of chutes at the other side of the gauge plate, and a carrierextending bet een the ejectors and chutes for moving articles over thegauge plate to the gauges; substantially as described.

5. In a gauging machine, an upright frame carrying a cylindrical gaugeplate, a vertical carrier having peripheral openings to receive articlesand carry them over the outer periphery of the gauge plate, a series ofslides radially arranged With respect to the gauge plate and carrier,and gauges carried by the slides; substantially as described.

6. In a gauging machine, a frame, a plate attached to the frame andhaving a cylindrical gauging surface, a rotary carrier mounted on theframe and having article engaging means traversable around thecylindrical gauging surface, the gauging surface being out of thevertical whereby the article rests against it by gravity, a gaugemounted on the frame'outside and above the cylindrical surface andhaving an article operated gauge point movable substantially in thedirection of movement of the articles, and a contact member movableunder control of the gauge point to complete an electric circuit;substantially as described.

7. In a gauging machine, an upright frame, a ring attached to the frameand having a cylindrical gauging surface, a rota-ry disc at one sideofthe ring and having an article engaging portion at the outer peripheryof the gauging surface, gauges arranged around the outer periphery ofthe gauging surface, and article ejectors arranged at the side of thering opposite to the rotary disc; substantially as described.

8. In a precision gauging machine, a gauge pla-te'having a conveXlycurved gauging surface presented upwardly and along which articles aretraversed in gravity contact, a gauge spaced above the gauging surface,a carrier having a flange surrounding the gauging surface and providedWith 'article receiving openings, means for actuating the carrier, andan ejector atV one side of the gauge plate and movable laterally intothe openings and across the gauging surface for expelling articles;substantially as described.

9. In a precision gauging machine, a gauge plate having a convex gaugingsurface pre1 sented upwardly and along which articles are traversed ingravity contact, a movable gauge spaced above said gauging surface, arotary carrier having a member surrounding the gauging surface andprovided with article openings which are open in both directionscrosswise of the gauging surface, an ejector at one side of the gaugeplate, and means controlled by the gauge for moving lao " moving theejector into the carrier openings to expel articles laterally across thegauging surface, the carrier openings also being open upwardly away fromthe gauging surface to receive the articles by gravity in such open-Vings and to provide for access of the articles to the gauge;substantially as described.

l1. In a precision gauging machine, a gauge plate having a convexgauging surface presented upwardly and along whicharticles are traversedin gravity contact, a plurality of gauges mounted above the gaugingsurface, a carrier having a member surrounding the gauging surface andprovided with article openings open upwardly for access of thek articlesto the gauges and open laterally in both directions crosswise of thegauging surface, a plurality of ejector-s associated with the gauges,and electric control means oper-l ated by contact of an article with agauge for moving the corresponding ejector into a carrier opening toexpel the article laterally from the gauging surface; substantially asdescribed. e

PHILIP H. HUTCHINSON.

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